Feminine hygienic device



Dec. 15, 1959 A. M. DELANEY FEMININE HYGIENIC DEVICE Filed June 21, 1956 NTOR DELAM/EY ATTCAJRNEY INVE HL/CE M.

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arvm "A 2,917,049 FEMININE HYGIENIC DEVICE Alice M. Delaney, Great Neck, N.Y. Application June 21, 1956, fierial No. 592,909 7 Claims. (Cl. 128-485) The invention relates to a feminine hygienic device that will assure the daintiness of women troubled with common vaginal discharge.

There has been much effort exerted to provide better and more protective hygienic devices for use by Women during the menstrual period. Thus, for example, the use of a tampon or the use of a sanitary napkin or catamenial pad to cover the labia of the vulva to absorb the sometimes large amounts of body wastes discharged during the menstruation period, is common.

The present invention is unique in that its precise purpose is neither that of a tampon nor a sanitary napkin, its use being directed to a more constant and immediate problem that may exist and persist for longer periods than the normal menstrual cycle. Many women are disturbed by a mucous discharge emitted by the vagina very often following childbirth and female illnesses. The discharge is commonly termed a vaginal discharge, the duration of which may vary with different women. Al though the extent of the mucus thus emitted is normally not as great as that discharged over a like span of the menstrual period, still it is generally in sufficient amount to constitute a nuisance.

The instant novel invention is directed to and has as its purpose, providing relief for women thus troubled. It therefore is an object of the invention to provide a hygienic device that may be employed to absorb mucus resulting from a vaginal discharge.

It is also another object of the invention to provide a hygienic device that need be placed only between the labia minor to project into the vestibule to absorb the mucus of the vaginal discharge.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hygienic device which is placed between the labia minor, while a further portion thereof projecting therefrom enables the device to be inserted or removed from between the labia minor.

Because of its intended use, the instant hygienic device need only be so long in length as to be shorter than the extent of the opening defined by the labia minor, and of such width that a placement portion thereof projects into the vestibule when the same is placed only slightly Within the vulva between the labia minor. Hence, features of the inventive device reside in its ease of application, ease of removal, and, because of its relatively small size, it may be disposed of without dificulty, capable of being flushed through any normal plumbing system. Moreover, as a result of its manner of application to the body, it requires no cumbersome belts or other common retaining devices. It securely retains its original position after contact with body organs, thereby reducing the incidence of irritations normally encountered in the use of other hygienic devices commonly employed for protection.

Other and further objects of my invention reside in the structures and arrangements hereinafter more fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Pig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the vulva and surrounding area, with a hygienic device of the instant intates atent Z,ai7,049 Patented Dec. 15, I959 2 vention positioned in accordance with the teaching thereof.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of the vulva taken along lines 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a hygienic device in its unfinished state.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the hygienic device shown in Fig. 3 in its finished condition, in accordance with the teaching of the invention.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a hygienic device in its unfinished state.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the hygienic device shown in Fig. 5 in its finished condition, in accordance with the teaching of the invention.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4 wherein the hygienic device there disclosed is generally identified by the numeral lltl hygienic device 10 is shown in Fig. 3 in its unfinished state composed of layers 12 of soft absorbent material such as cellulosic tissue, to form a mass 14. Each of the layers 12 is polygonally shaped in the form of a triangle and superimposed in alignment one on top of the other.

The mass member 14 includes a forward placement r portion 15 defined in the area of apex 16. Placement portion 15 is accommodated for passage through the opening defined by the labia minor 18 of the vulva 20 for placement within the vestibule 12. Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be noted that the placement portion 15 of the member 14 penetrates beyond the labia minor 18 and enters into the vestibule 22 of the vulva. This position of use permits its facile placement as will be presently described.

Device 10 includes also a rear or applicator portion 24 that is coextensive with the placement portion 15 situated or included in the structure of the device along the base or rear edge 26 (Fig. 3) that is opposite to the apex 16.

It will be noted that the applicator portion 24 of the finished device 10 shown in Fig. 4 is substantially narrower than the placement or forward portion 15. This is a result of pressing together the layers 12 of the unfinished device 10 in Fig. 3 at 26, to secure them together in their proper alignment and relative positions. Hence the apex portion 16 is caused to flare outwardly and position 15 is thickened along its elongated length while the side Walls and edges of the device emanating from the apex converge toward the narrowed base 24.

The device 10 shown in Fig. 4 in its finished condition, is manipulated by holding the same at applicator portion 24 with the thumb and index fingers. Being held in this manner it is inserted into the vestibule 22 by passing it between the labia minor 18 lengthwise in the opening defined thereby. When portion 15 is positioned in the vestibule 22, its sides engage with the normally unexposed membranes or surfaces thereof. With the device 10 in position, the rear or applicator portion 24 extends short of the vestibule substantially at the entranceway formed by the labia minor. Thus, spreading of the labia minor will expose applicator 24 to permit the wearer of the same to grasp and remove it from the vulva 20.

Once the device 10 is properly positioned in the vulva between the labia minor, it will stay in place. The mucous vaginal discharge, coacting with the walls of the device 10, creates an adhesion therebetween sufficient in force to overcome its accidental displacement until removed in the aforementioned manner.

The embodiment of the hygienic device shown in Figs. 5 and 6 is generally identified by the numeral 100. Fig. 5 shows device in its unfinished state while Fig. 6 shows the same in its finished condition with the layers 112 thereof compressed together at the rear or applicator portion 124. r

As in the prior embodiment 10, the present hygienic device 10 is composed of a plurality of layers 112 of soft absorbent material, such as cellulosic tissue, to form a mass 114. The layers 112 are each polygonally shaped in the form of a rectangle, and superimposed in alignment one on top of the other.

In the instant embodiment the forward or placement portion 115 is situated along the longest side of the member 114 and is intended to be placed in position in the vestibule 22 by passing it between the labia minor 18, to absorb the mucous discharge emitted by the vaginal passage 28. As in the use of device 10, portion 115 penetrates beyond the labia minor and is accommodated therebetween to insure its secure positioning within the vulva. The adhesive force created by the cooperation of the mucous with the walls of device 10 serves to retain the same in place against accidental displacement and without the necessity of clumsy belt supports.

Coextensive with the forward portion 116 is the rear or applicator portion 124. Like the portion 115, portion 124 is situated along a longest side of the member 114 but at the side thereof opposite the leading edge 116. In Fig. 6 the applicator portion 124 is narrower than the thickened leading edge 116. This narrowness results from pressing the layers 112 together along the rear 126 (Fig. of the unfinished member 114. The compression thus provides a narrowed portion 124 that may be manually manipulated and also causes the portion 116 to flare outwardly to greater than its normal thickness along its elongated length, at the same time securing together the layers 112 from misalignment.

Application of the'device 100 is the same as that of the device 10 except, however, it will be clear that the full and longer placement portion 115 and leading edge 116 is moved between the labia minor 18 and into the vestibule 22. When the device 100 is properly positioned in the vulva 20, the converging side walls of placement portion 115 and application portion 124 of the device 100 will be accommodated between the labia minor 18. In each device, It and 100, the portions 24 and 124 respectively extend substantially to the entranceway defined by the labia minor, short of the vestibule 22. Hence, slightly separating the labia minor exposes the manually engageable portion 24 or 124 that allows for easy removal of their respective devices.

It will be clear from the foregoing that there is provided a novel hygienic device that is neither a tampon nor a sanitary napkin. To those who are skilled in the art it will be recognized that the length of the rear or applicator portion 124 of the device 100 is not critical and may be made shorter, if desired, by cutting the layers 112 to taper backwardly from the placement portion 116 thereto. This may be envisioned as the reverse of the structure of device 10. Additionally, the rear portions 24 and 124 of the devices 10 and 100 respectively may be pressed together other than by the application of pressure. They may also be sewn together if desired.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to several preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the devices illustrated and in their operations may be made by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

. 1. A hygienic device comprising a plurality of superimposed layers of soft absorbent cellucotton, each of said layers being shaped triangularly with an apex portion thereof to be inserted into the vulva between the labia minor, and the edge of said device opposite the apex portion defining an applicato'r by which the apex portion may be inserted manually between the labia minor, said applicator edge being formed narrower in thickness than said apex portion by pressing the layers together thereat to inherently secure the same in their proper relative positions.

2. A hygienic device comprising a mass of absorbent material having a thickened placement portion that is to be inserted between the labia into the vestibule, a base portion of said mass opposite said thickened placement portion comprising an applicator portion longer than said placement portion to be engaged manually for insertion of said placement portion between the labia minor, said base portion being narrower than said thickened portion extending beyond said labia for manual removal from said vestibule.

3. A hygienic device comprising a triangular absorbent member, a thickened apex portion on said member for insertion between the labia minor, and a narrowed base opposite said apex portion, the edges and walls of said member converging from said apex portion toward said narrowed base.

4. A hygienic device for women to be placed between the labia minor to absorb a vaginal discharge, said device comprising a soft absorbent mass of polygonally shaped material having a thickened portion to be placed lengthwise within the vestibule by way of the opening defined by the labia minor, and a portion of said mass coextensive with said thickened portion projecting outwardly beyond the labia minor when said thickened portion is in said vestibule, said last named portion being relatively narrower and longer than said thickened portion for manual engagement to enable insertion of the thickened portion into the vestibule and to remove the same therefrom.

5. A hygienic device for placement between the labia minor to absorb a vaginal discharge comprising a polygonal absorbent member having a placement portion and a coextensive applicator portion, said applicator portion being narrowed for manual engagement to insert said placement portion through the opening formed by the labia minor into the vestibule and extending outwardly from the vestibule to be maually engageable to remove said placement portion therefrom, said applicator portion being longer than said placement portion.

6. A hygienic device comprising a plurality of layers of soft absorbent material, said layers being rectangularly shaped and superimposed in alignment with each other, a placement portion extending along one of the longest sides of the rectangle for insertion between the labia minor into the vestibule, a rear narrowed portion extending along the other of the longest sides of the rectangle for manual engagement to manipulate said placement po'rtion into and out of the vestibule, said rear portion being pressed together to secure the layers in their relative alignment and to reduce the thickness thereof, and said forward portion flaring outwardly from said rear portion and being of relatively greater thickness than said rear portion.

7. A hygienic device comprising a mass of absorbent material of polygonal shape, said mass including coextensive rear and forward portions, said rear and forward portions being formed along opposite sides of said mass, said rear portion being relatively narrower in thickness than said forward portion and longer than said forward portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,629,381 Brown Feb. 24, 1953 2,682,875 Brown July 6, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 595,971 France July 31, 1925 547.596 Great Britain Sept. 3, 1942 

